MARK EDWARDS

LSU-Auburn history favors home team

In Thursday’s Daily, we published a list of 10 Alabama-Tennessee games worth remembering, and I wonder how long it will be before Auburn-LSU is worth such a list.

Although it will take years to beat the old rivalries such as Tide-Vols, Florida-Georgia, Auburn-Georgia and, of course, Alabama-Auburn, the two teams of Tigers have put together a pretty good matchup in recent years.

In the past seven years, the winner of Auburn-LSU has won the SEC Western Division, and it won’t surprise if Saturday makes it six out of eight.

The home team has won each of those seven games. The last time the visitor won was in 1999 when Auburn stomped LSU 41-7, marking the beginning of the end for Gerry DiNardo. He was out as LSU’s coach in the week before the last game of that season.

We’re going with the home team again this time. ... LSU 24, Auburn 14.

No. 20 Tennessee (4-2) at Alabama (5-2): Part of the reason the Crimson Tide got rid of Mike Shula was that he struggled to win games like this. He was 1-3 against the Vols. We’re still on the Nick Saban bandwagon, so we’re picking the Tide. ... Alabama 24, Tennessee 23.

No. 14 Florida (4-2) at No. 8 Kentucky (6-1): This was a popular pick before the season as an upset game because it is sandwiched between Florida’s games against LSU and Georgia. There’s little chance of the Gators overlooking this one, especially since they need a win even worse than Kentucky does. ... Florida 34, Kentucky 27.

Vanderbilt (3-3) at No. 6 South Carolina (6-1): It’s hard to say a team ranked No. 6 in the nation is underrated, but South Carolina isn’t on the championship radar ... yet. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks are winning a lot like his Florida teams did — with a solid defense that allows the offense to take any chances it wants. South Carolina is ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense and fourth in passing efficiency defense. ... South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 10.

Arkansas (3-3) at Ole Miss (2-5): Yes, it’s interesting to poke fun at Rebels coach Ed Orgeron and his shirt-ripping, fight-challenging, door-banging ways, but he’s actually putting together a better team this year than last, even though the record isn’t good. This is a great time for Ole Miss to pick up a nice SEC win, but Arkansas always seems to play well under Houston Nutt when all seems to be lost. ... Arkansas 27, Ole Miss 21.

Mississippi State (4-3) at No. 9 West Virginia (5-1): If the Big East wants to prove that it’s not a fluke, it needs West Virginia not only
to win this one but also to hammer
MSU.

The Mountaineers could, since they rank second in the nation in rushing offense, and MSU probably isn’t going to slow them down much. ... West Virginia 35, Mississippi State 17.

No. 22 Texas Tech (6-1) at No. 15 Missouri (5-1): If you love offense, keep an eye on this one. Tech is first in the nation in passing and total offense. Missouri is fifth in both categories. ... Missouri 42, Texas Tech 41.

No. 13 Southern California (5-1) at Notre Dame (1-6): Southern California has won the last five in this series 44-13, 45-14, 41-10, 34-31 and 44-24. ... Southern California 28, Notre Dame 10.

Miami (4-3) at Florida State (4-2): Wow, neither team is ranked in what used to be the most anticipated regular-season game of the season. ... Florida State 21, Miami 17.

No. 24 Michigan (5-2) at Illinois (5-2): Michigan has rebounded quietly after embarrassing back-to-back season-opening losses to Appalachian State 34-32 and Oregon 39-7.

The schedule toughens, however, but this is one Michigan should pull in. The Wolverines’ Mike Hart leads the nation with 154 rushing yards a game. ... Michigan 27, Illinois 20.

Last week: 5-5.

Overall: 54-16.